Improvement in life-rafts



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

L. E. EEAZEE, oE SOUTH AMBOY, NEw JERSEY.

IMPRVEM ENT IN LIFE-RAFTS.

To all 'whom 'it 'ma/y concern:

Be it known that I, L. F. FRAZEE, ot' South Amboy, Middlesex county, State of New Jersey, have invented a new and Improved Life- Raft 5 and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description there,- ot', which will enable others skilled in the art to'make and use the same, reference bein g had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification,A in which- Figure 1 represents a plan or top View of this invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the same. Fig. 3 is atransverse section of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts.

This invention relates to a liferatt which is so constructed that it can be easilycarried on board of steamboats or vessels of any description, and that the same when thrown overboard will always "float right side up and be ready to receive a number of passengers. It is composed of two air-tight hollow drums, which are protected by wooden cases and connected to each other by cross-braces, so as to give room for passengers. The space between the drums is partially tlled with cork or other buoyant material, and both sides of the raft are alike, so that it is immaterial which side turns up when said raft is launched.

A represents my life-raft, which is constructed of two hollow drums, B, of sheet metal or `other suitable material, and ot' such a size that their displacement is equal `to the load tobe carried. Said drums are protected by wooden cases C, and the ends of these cases are made of solid wood, so that the drums are prevented from being stove in or injured if the raft comes in contact with a vessel or other obstruction.

The two drums are connected together by cross-bars D, which are secured to the same by copper straps E, and the space between the drums is occupied by two seats, F, extending throughout the entire length of the raft, with sutcient room between for the legs of the persons occupying said seats.l

Suitable rails G are hinged to the seats, so that the same can be turned up and made to form the backs for the seats, and also a pro'- tection for the passengers.

The space under the seats is filled with cork or other buoyant material. so as to render the raft capable to tloat even it' one or both ot1 the drums should be injured or stove in.

Near the bow ot' the raft a mast, H, is secured in such a manner that the same canbe turned down when the raft is not used and up when the raft is to be used. When the mast is up it is held in position by suitable ropes and lines, and a sail, I, is hoisted. on it, so that the raft can be sailed with ease and convenience.

Boards J, which are made to turn up to an i inclined position at the bowand stern ot' the raft, form a sort of protection against the sea and enable the raft to pass through a pretty rough sea without shipping much water. Through the board at the stern a paddle, K, may be placed, which serves as a rudder if the raft is rigged up and under headway.

By these means a life-raft is obtained which` is not liable to get leaky or out ot' order when exposed to the sun or atmosphere for a long time, and which is so constructed that it can be launched, or rather thrown overboard, by inexperienced persons without danger of swamping or tlling, and consequently all the disadvantages ofan ordinary boat are avoided.

My raft takes np comparatively little room, and it can be easily made large enough to support twenty or thirty persons. An article is thus obtained which is ot' incalculable value for ferry-boats land passen ger-Steamers on inland waters and on the ocean, and in fact for vessels of any description, and which will prove the means of savinga great many lives which with the ordinary means, or rather want of means, would be lost.

What I claim as new, and desire to secureI by Letters Patent, is

The combination of the drums E and casings C, as described, cross-bars D, and hinged rails G, all constructed and arranged in the manner and for the purpose herein specied.

LAWRENCE F. FRAZEE.

Witnesses M. M. LIVINGSTON, ALEX. F. RoBEETs. 

